UNDERTANDING THE BASICS OF FIRE SUPPRESSION

WHY DO WE USE DRY POWDER & FOAM?

Like many things in life, there are always pros and cons. The ‘Suppression Agents’ (chemicals) used in fire suppression systems are not exempt from this dilemma. Fireward’s Dual Agent systems ensure customers receive the best of both the dry powder and foam agents benefits. Dry powder is our primary agent and as proven during testing, dry powder performs over 40% better than foam only systems. Below we look at the key benefits and disadvantages of dry powder and foam:

Dry powder pro’s

• It is the world’s most approved and recognised agent for mobile vehicles.
• Instant knockdown and superior coverage with ABC Powder (including electrical fires).
• Extreme low-temperature performance.
• 5 times more effective than water by weight for Class A Fires.

Dry Powder Con’s

• Provides limited cooling effect

Foam Pro’s

• Excellent cooling properties (reducing risk of reignition.
• Durable film-forming and blanketing properties separate oxygen from the fuel source.

Foam con’s

• Poor performance of coverage in complex confined spaces, limited by nozzle spray patterns. 
• Suitable for Class A and B fires only.
• Significantly increased nozzle and agent quantities compared to powder.

THE IMPORTANCE OF APPROVALS 

Fireward understands the pro’s and con’s of both dry powder and foam agents, which is why our dual agent system provides the ‘safest and most cost-effective fire suppression system on the market.

Reacton Fire Suppression systems used by Fireward recently carried our testing for three main approvals, for heavy plant machinery and buses & coaches. As part of the approvals, a complete performance examination of the systems is carried out through a series of demanding tests simulating the harsh environments and hazards that suppression systems are exposed to on a daily basis. This is also accompanied by the quality and control of the manufacture of the components in the system. This ensures that a product offering great firefighting abilities is also manufactured in a strict and controlled process meeting a consistent, high level of quality.

The Reacton Fire Suppression systems scored the maximum possible score and are suitable for open enclosures using our dual agent fire suppression system. Fireward systems already comply with the new European regulation UNECE R107.